My Favorite Coach

I had apprehensively tried out for high school soccer, knowing that kids from surrounding towns, who had all played travel on flashy, winning, teams, would be my competition. All I had wanted was to make that freshman team, to be part of a soccer program that in recent years had been a championship winning team. Fortunately my hard work payed off and I made that team. It was during my time in the school soccer program that I had not only grew as a player but met some of the people that I now call my best friends. The team required dedication,

With the right influence, communication and skill development is the key to a valuable coach. Without my two outstanding high school coaches, I wouldn’t have the love for basketball and track the way I do today. They have taught me everything I needed to know for the present, along with tips for the future. Coach Lewis and Coach Kohler have done more for me than what I’ve ever deserved and I will never be able to pay them back for all their help and encouragement. But I hope they have understanding of how much of a change they can make on someone's life, someone's life like my

When I started my soccer career during my freshman year, I began in the junior varsity team. I was not so familiar with sports until I started playing football and soccer. I once believed that I was not good enough to join the team, but after committing myself to conditioning and being determined to give my best to every practice, I proved myself wrong. Not only did I make it to the team, however I was also a starting player. For the following year, my sophomore year, I transferred into a different high school. There, I played in the Varsity team as a right defense for my sophomore and junior year. This year, 12th grade, I will be a captain for the soccer team. I was able to not only build strong friendships with my teammates, but also with

In high school I played baseball, basketball and track and worked my way up to varsity after my first year of playing. My coach for baseball was Coach Toole, for basketball Coach Miller, and track was Coach Swenson. All these coaches helped me significantly improve my game and my life. I thank them all for that.

So many Coaches have talent and dedication for what they do. I 'm proud to play for one that has a spectacular history of coaching. That coach is Dennis Lorio, who Graduated from LSU (Louisiana State University) with an economic degree and played baseball. “I love the intensity and the relationship in football” Coach Lorio explaining with a passionate expression. I can see it in his eyes that he is very dedicated and hardworking coach. As of now he is 62 years old and still willing to coach. “It’s not the same without coaching. The joy and the sorrow I feel during the season has been addicted to me. I’ve been in this game almost all my life and that is a very long time.”

On that first Saturday in June 2012, my teammates and I fulfilled our life-long goals of winning a state championship together and proving to the people that did not believe in us that we could do it. On that day, those fifteen guys I had grown up through grade school with were no longer just teammates and friends, they became brothers to me. Another reason Huntington Park is so special to me is because I was the final pitcher in both championships, meaning I had the ball in my hand when the game was on the line. Standing on the mound in front of ten thousand people with all eyes looking at you is a nerve racking feeling but there was no better feeling then being the guy that our coach trusted to bring home the trophy for our team. Lastly, this baseball stadium known as Huntington Park is so special to me because after receiving that trophy and medal for winning the championship I also received my high school diploma at home plate because our team missed the graduation ceremony. There are not many people in the world that can say they received their high school diploma on the same field they won a state championship. Huntington Park may not be a special place for anyone else but it will always be a special place for my teammates and myself. Those two days our dreams became realities and that is something we will all look back and cherish forever. Whether it’s passing by the stadium in my car or attending a Columbus Clippers game during the summer time, any time I find myself back at Huntington Park I still get the chills from knowing I played on that

As Mike Singletary once said, “A player responds to a coach who has the best interest at heart.” This is true for me and the rest of my team whenever Greg Schwebach is coaching. He is an amazing person on and off the the field or court.

I am thankful for that coach, because that coach taught me how to prove people wrong and work hard for

I was discouraged by his abandonment of the team. I decided to never leave a game no matter the score. Although to no surprise, Kansas won. I could not believe it. A stream of tears began to run down my face as I ran up the stairs to deliver the horrible news to my father, who was disappointed but not surprised. I sprawled out onto the floor dispirited and let out a cry for longer than the baby had. My father made an attempt to stop me, but my sadness was not to be argued with. Today, I laugh at the story, impressed by the amount of passion and importance I held in a simple game.

My most memorable baseball experience came not when I was eight, beating several of my friends on the opposing Little League team, not when I was 15, against our cross-town rivals pushing my school team into the JV playoffs, but just a couple weeks ago, marking the first win of the team that I helped coach. It was just the second game of our season, and only an hour and a half long, but it was a representation of the backbreaking work applied by everyone involved. After my ninth grade year playing JV ball, I decided that I needed to focus on my school work, as it was tough to maintain my grades while juggling sports and other extracurricular activities. However, I continued to play club baseball, as my passion for the game never faltered. The trend continued in my junior year, as I needed to drop club baseball in order to keep up with the challenging courses I took. My coach, who I’ve been with since 6th grade, asked me to come back out whenever I was available so I could help prepare some of the younger boys in the program for the upcoming season. One of my core beliefs is that it’s important to give back to those who helped or supported you; the least I could do for all the years that my coach helped me, was to help him back.

My freshman year I made the Varsity soccer team. Every practice I had to strive and work harder to be able to keep up with the upperclassmen skill level and talent. I was finally getting to where I wanted with consistent practice. I became a starter and the upperclassmen would pass me the ball more and help me on the field when there were opponents on me. It wasn’t until the middle of the season when everything changed. We were playing against a school who was very skilled and talented. It was in the first half of the game when one of the girls on the opposing team had the ball and was dribbling it down the field. It got past our midfield players and two defenders. I was the last one before it reached our goalie. I ran towards her and with everything I had I kicked the ball.

With the aid and support of my family and friends, I have achieved some pretty impressive accolades, from High school all American to Gatorade player of the year awards. Coaches, both past and present have all played an important role in shaping my life but there are two coaches who have helped me significantly both on and off the pitch. My high school coach at the Kiski school and my coach from back home. Although they took different measures of reaching off to me, they but wanted the same thing and that was to see me succeed in life and be the best man I can be while doing it. Looking back at it, I have some key moments that I am grateful for, like being part of the u-17 Nigerian camp back in 2015.

A coach of any kink is important for any team to run and function in an appropriate manner. They keep the team in good condition, ready for the next task, and how to have an open mind about anything that comes their way. Coaches need to be flexible and be able to move things around as things and people change daily. Coaches are leaders and have the potential to inspire many people they come in contact with. With the right coach people and teams can get many things accomplished in a fast and appropriate manner. This is a skill many employers look for.

The time I have spent with you guys have been amazing. You guys have made me a better soccer player. I believe you guys played a role in me giving my life to Jesus in the summer of 2015. On top of that, I am not only going to Southwestern College to study, but to play soccer as well and this wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for both you. You guys literally paved the way for me to me able to attend college. I moved a lot and played for many different teams, but I haven’t met coaches that are as loving and caring for their players as you guys

My sophomore year I did not expect to be playing varsity until the coach came